Sunday, 20 November 2011

Ut quid, Deus?

O God, wherefore art thou absent from us so long: why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?O think upon thy congregation: whom thou hast purchased and redeemed of old.Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance: and mount Sion, wherein thou hast dwelt.Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy: which hath done evil in thy sanctuary.Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregations: and set up their banners for tokens.He that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees: was known to bring it to an excellent work.But now they break down all the carved work thereof: with axes and hammers.They have set fire upon thy holy places: and have defiled the dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the ground.Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havock of them altogether: thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the land.We see not our tokens, there is not one prophet more: no, not one is there among us, that understandeth any more.O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishonour: how long shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name, for ever?Why withdrawest thou thy hand: why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom to consume the enemy?For God is my King of old: the help that is done upon earth he doeth it himself.Thou didst divide the sea through thy power: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.Thou smotest the heads of Leviathan in pieces: and gavest him to be meat for the people in the wilderness.Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of the hard rocks: thou driedst up mighty waters.The day is thine, and the night is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy hath rebuked: and how the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of the enemies: and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever.Look upon the covenant: for all the earth is full of darkness and cruel habitations.O let not the simple go away ashamed: but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy Name.Arise, O God, maintain thine own cause: remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily.Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the presumption of them that hate thee increaseth ever more and more.